In response to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's announcement that 2019 will be the Year of Tolerance, which will be a major national focus point on the country's annual agenda, an occasion and an ideal platform for launching charitable and humanitarian initiatives, Dawoud Al Hajiri, Director General of Dubai Municipality said that the UAE is an incubator of the values of tolerance, peace, safety and multiculturalism, which includes many different nationalities that enjoy a decent life and respect.

He said the laws of the UAE guarantees justice, respect and equality to all, and is committed against hatred and tension, and the causes of division and difference.

Al Hajiri noted that the UAE is a global capital in which the civilizations of East and West meet. “Recently we hosted the World Tolerance Summit, which reflects the vision of our wise government in delivering the message of tolerance and coexistence to the world, which will promote peace and rapprochement among all people. The culture of tolerance is not born in the UAE society today. It is an extension of a culture that has prevailed in the region since ancient times, and the declaration of 2019 as the Year of Tolerance supports the country’s position towards the consolidation of the values of tolerance,” he said.